Resilient heel



Sept. 22, 1931. MCKINNEY 1,824,287

RESILIENT HEEL Filed Dec. '7, 1929 ww Oi.

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES BELLA R. MCKINNEY, OF LOS; ANGELES; CALIFORNIA.

RE-SILIENT HEEIL Application filed December 7, 1929-. serial- No. 412,364.

This invention relates to improvements in footwear and more particularly to shoes and shoe construction.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, elficient and inexpensive device in the form of a heel designed to afford a cushioning action when tread upon in the course of walking.

Another object of this invention is to proe vide a resilient heel upon a shoe having lasting properties and affording a cushioning action agreeable to the step.

A further object of this invention is to provide a resilient heel arranged to be comlf pressed resiliently when tread upon for the purpose of affording a soft, yieldable, pleasant touch to the foot.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a resilient heel from laminations of leather so combined with a resilient spring as to allow the resiliency of the spring to provide the cushioning effect and the leather laminations to provide the pliable tread surfaces.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similarreference characters designate similar throughout the respective views,

Figure 1 is a fragmental view of a shoe 5 showing in section the heel portion.

Figure 2 is a section taken thru Figure 1.

In the drawings, wherein my invention is only shown by way of illustration I disclose a shoe upper designated broadly by A.

it) The heel is constructed as fully disclosed in Figure 1. There is provided a plurality of pliable, compressible and yieldable annular members 34, which may be made of cork, rubber or the like. A concentric coiled spring is provided forming the resilient core of the heel. Two setsror groups of leather laminations or the like are provided designated respectively 36, 37, and all the leather la-minations are formed semi-cy parts One set of laminations 36 having their-marginal or outer rims or edges arranged bctween the several annular members 34, being nested betweenthese members the other group. of laminations 37 are similarly arranged between the annular lamina.- 5 tions and have their inner edges spaced; apart from the adj acen' edges ofthe adjacent. laminations.

The inner rims or'edges of thel'eather lami-- nations project between the windings of; the; spring 35 in such a manner that one set of laminations 36 are staggered with respect to: the other set 3'7 due to the circumstance that the pitch of the coils of the spring-aremade to hold the laminations in this disposition. Hencethe several. laminations are kept level at alt times by the seating they have on the. coils of. the spring and by the props afforded by the annular members 34; Hence withthe inner ends offthe spring attached fixedly to the shoe proper as; at P engaging thepart. B of the shoe upper, and with the lower end of the same spring attached by the fasteners P to th'ewcar surface 38 of the heel all the parts are properly joined. It will be understood that any other. well known manner as by sewing, may serve to securely unite the heel with the shoe and hold the same against lateral distortion. When the heel is pressed; downwardly upon by' the foot of the wearer, it will result in compressing the spring 35; and as this occursand'the coils of the spring sink the laminations will be moved down in unison therewith and as the same pressure depresses the pliable compressible annular members 34 they yield at the same time as the spring. Hence a soft, yieldable and well balanced and sturdy heel is produced.

I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction disclosed herein but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

W hat I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a shoe a heel composed of a plurality of leather laminations arranged in staggered pairs, each lamination being semi-cylindrical, a coiled spring arranged centrally in said heel with the staggered laminati ans projecting between the windings of the spring to be seated thereupon yieldably, and compressible yieldable means interposed between the outer marginal edges of the laminations for closing the interstices between the said laminations.

2. In a shoe a heel consisting of two sets of leather laminations, each lamination being formed semi-cylindrically, a single coiled spring extending below the shoe proper and having the inner edges of the alternate laminations projecting bet-ween the windings thereof so as to be seated thereon, the inner marginal edges of the laminations being separated, a wear surface secured upon the lower end of said spring, means securing the other end of the spring upon the shoe proper, and compressible yieldable members arranged between the outer edges of the laminations and yielding with the compression of the spring windings.

3. In combination with a shoe a heel composed of a series of vertically separated leather laminations, annular compressible members interposed between the marginal rims of the several laminations, and a spring arranged concentrically of the annular members and having portions of the laminations seated upon the several windings thereof, and a wear surface mounted upon the under part of the heel.

4. In combination with a shoe a heel coinposedof a series of vertically separated leather laminations, a coiled spring having its inner end secured to the shoe proper to dispose the spring concentrically of the annular members, the laminations having portions seated upon and between the windings of the spring with the laminations arranged I in staggered relation, a wear surface to which the opposite end of the spring is attached, and annular cushions upon which the outer rims of the laminations rest yieldably so when the spring is compressed the laminations move down upon the cushions.

In witness whereof she has hereunder set her hand this 27th day of November, 1929. BELLA R. MCKINNEY. 

